Council OKs 474-unit rental project near mall

Milpitas City Council voted unanimously Dec. 18 to approve a conditional use permit for a 474-unit, multi-story rental project near Great Mall.

The approval paves the way for Newport Beach-based Lyon Communities to allow the development to be called 450 Montague on 7.98 acres at 450 Montague Expressway.

In addition, the project will include a six-story, 865-space parking garage; the completion and dedication of a 2.5 acre public park; improvements to the streetscape of existing adjacent roads and the construction of two access streets; completion of a portion of a public trail along Penitencia Creek; and will feature private amenities such as a roof deck recreational space and three courtyards, city reports state.

The project also includes conducting a feasibility study for a future $9-million pedestrian bridge over Montague Expressway likely to be funded through developer impact fees, reports state.

"This is a very large residential project with 59 units per acre," Sheldon Ah Sing, the city's senior planner, said prior to the project's approval.

Although the council approved of the plan, some members requested the developer seek to improve aspects of the project.

Councilwoman Carmen Montano wanted to see the project feature a child care center, noting similar residential developments in the area featured this amenity, so residents would not have to travel extra distances.

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"It reduces greenhouse emissions and serves as a safe place for families and their children and it serves a need," Montano said. "There's a lot of people looking for good child care centers in the city."

Peter Zak, vice president of community development for Lyon, said the company has no plans to integrate day care into the project.

Councilman Armando Gomez agreed with Montano over the need for more child care centers in Milpitas. Later, Gomez asked city staff how these centers could be better integrated into the city's planning process for new developments.

Milpitas City Manager Tom Williams said an item could be brought back to the next council meeting to address child care centers in the city's master plan.

Zak later said if City of Milpitas sees a need for a child care center in 450 Montague, "we'll make the space for it." At the meeting, Zak also asserted Lyon's housing project to be built to for sale condominium specifications but managed by the firm as a rental property until the for-sale market improves was "pushing the envelope in terms of quality."

Others disagreed.

Resident Rob Means said the plans lack any mixed use retail and residential space, a child care center, affordable housing, and energy-efficient building and construction space. Means asked the council to push the developer to do more of these.

Likewise, resident Robert Marini said the housing project would stretch the city's already strained city services such as utilities, police and fire departments beyond capacity. Marini further suggested the new units would draw more people into town creating greater traffic congestion and overburdening Milpitas Unified School District with new students.

The council members said Lyon's project was beneficial and suggested it was consistent with the Transit Area Specific Plan, which proposes more than 7,100 new dwelling units and nearly 1 million square feet of office space centered near the pending Milpitas Bay Area Rapid Transit Station and existing light rail west of Great Mall.

"Welcome to Milpitas," Mayor Jose Esteves told the developer after casting his vote for the project.

Contact Ian Bauer at ibauer@themilpitaspost.com or 408-262-2454. Visit us on our social media sites at facebook.com/milpitaspost and twitter.com/milpitaspost.